Seruvalsar and Manimahesh Lake — Attraction in Himachal Pradesh

Mata budhi nagin,Paradise, solitude, meditation

Serolsar Lake is situated at 3100 mtr height from sea level and is 6 Kms from Jalori Jot. This place is best known for its clean,blue water of the lake and Mata Budhi Nagin(Mother of all Naag Deities) Temple. It is believed that Mata resides at her golden palace beneath the lake. No body till know the exact depth of the lake. people from inner and outer seraj come there to worship Mata Budhi Nagin.People do jagrata and arrange bhandara(feast) on the occasion of festival there. Desi Ghee and halwa is offered to Mata. First ghee prepared from cow milk is offered by local people,believing there will no shortage of milk and ghee.

It is strictly advised not to get into lake or swim in the lake. Mata doesn't like anybody to get into the lake. This round shaped lake is surrounded by lush green forest. Beauty of the lake is , not a single leaf is there in the lake in spite it is surrounded by trees. Beautiful pair of birds are there to take away any such foreign elements which gets into lake.

So it is requested to all please keep the serenity of the place. Take waste with you back to dispose off.

In winters this lake gets frozen and looks very beautiful.

How to reach Serolsar Lake To reach Serolsar Lake you have to reach Jalori Pass . It lies in the beautiful Banjar Valleyof Kullu distt. It will take around 8 to 10 hours from Chandigarh or Shimla. If you travel by bus you have to travel upto Aut, station which comes after 2.8 Kms long Largi Tunnel. From Aut you will find public transport or can hire taxi for Banjar. It is 24 Kms from Aut towards Banjar. You can stay at Banjar or travel to Jibhi ,Gyagi or Shoja Village. These villages have traditional home stay facilities. You can enjoy camping in tents there. I promise you will enjoy a lot there.From Shojha village Jalori Jot is only 5 Kms. If you stay at Banjar get up early in the morning and start to Jalori Jot. If you drive your own vehicle ,drive safely. It is a steep descent from Jalori Pass toBanjar. When you come back to Banjar, dont alway rely on brakes. drive on heavy gear so that you have to use brakes regularly. From Jalori Top you have to trek upto serolsar lake through pine trees,rhododendron and through big rocks. Trek is beautiful and you can see snow laden peaks, Aani area. In summers you will find Camping sites at Jalori pass. There are local shops where you can take breakfast or lunch. It will rejuvenate you after 2 days of camping at this beautiful place. Yow will reach Serolsar lake in 2 to 4 hours of journey. You will find temporary shops there. There you can take tea or fast food. After reaching there you can offer your prayer there in the temple,can take round trip of the lake. If you have to go back to Banjar same day by public transport, keep the time in mind you have to reach back to jalori pass before 1430. Keep umbrella or raincoat as it rains...

I have done this trek on 5th of September, and the weather condition at that point of time was not ideal. You probably have read a lot about this hike before you are reading this review, but I’m adding some extra information here just for the additional help. First and foremost, a clear sky is must in order to have a glance of the whole valley. Please check the weather forecast before coming to this place, otherwise your view will be hindered by clouds and foggy weather. The trek starts from Jalori pass itself, and it is about 5-6kms. The trek is comparatively easy to navigate. The climb is not too steep and the trail is well distinguished. Time required for one side : 1-1.5 hours for absolutely fit and speed hikers. 1.5-2 hours for average person. It took me 1 hour and 10 minutes to reach at the lake. Things required : You don’t need anything in this trek. Carry a water bottle and a snack to refuel your glucose level. There are plenty of small shops and cafes in between the trail. They also provide you with some decent staying options. Remember, whatever you intend to carry, you have to climb with that weight, so I’m suggesting you not to carry extra weight.

Suggestions : start your hike early in the morning so that you can come back around 3-4 pm.

Obligatory duty : Remember, it might be a normal trekking destination for you, but for the locals, it is a Holly and culturally important site. Their religious and cultural sentiments are attached to this place and it is you duty to respect that. Be humble and polite to everyone and keep supporting the other fellow trekkers. There’s also a temple at the lake, so an appropriate attire is also must to visit the same.

Most important : During my visit, I have encountered a lot of trash, plastic bottles, wrappers throughout the trail. I even have seen some educated youngsters littering, which is very heartbreaking and frustrating at the same time. I even raised my voice, but their alter ego forced them to abuse. So, my humble request from you guys is not to litter at all. Carry a separate bag for your trash. This is your own country, this is your own land, you have to be responsible enough to maintain the ecological system of the area, and preserve it for future generation. Don’t litter and don’t let anyone to do the same.

Overall, it’s an easy yet beautiful hike, with some magnificent views. During your return, you can also go to the 360 degree view point, which also offers a stunning view of the...

Serolsar lake and a Budhi nagin

Serolsar lake also known as Saryolsar Lake) at an altitude of 10,496 feet in the outer Seraj valley of Kullu district of  Himachal Pradesh, surrounded by Alpine forests it is also accessible via Jalori pass.

There is a one really interesting story about the lake- Once a Brahmin from a nearby village came to visit Serolsar lake while he was taking a stroll around the lake he drowned himself. It is believed that Serolsar Lake is the residence of the Budhi Naagin the mother of all Nag (Snake) Deities of Himachal like SheshNag, KamruNag, GhundaNag, MahuNag to name a few and she lives in her golden palace at the bottom of the lake. The goddess saved his life She even allowed the Brahmin to stay in her golden palace for three years taking the promise that he will not tell anything about the stay and the goddess to anyone. The Brahmin’s family, who assumed him to be dead, was ecstatic on seeing him after 3 years when the brahmin got back to his family they were curious to know where he had been for such a long time. Everyone kept asking him about his whereabouts but he kept dodging that question. But one day he had to tell everyone what happened and as soon as he did that, he died. His family & friends were shocked. They wanted to go and figure out about the mystery of the lake, and whoever from his family tried visiting the lake met with mysterious accidents. No geological study has still been able to accurately calculate the depth of the lake. Maybe because the Budhi Nagin wants to stay peacefully in her Golden Palace.

And if you want to offer your prayers to the Budhi Nagin, do so at the temple located next to the lake, and do not venture into the lake – she doesn’t like people taking a dip in it, or standing on it when it’s frozen

Stories about Budhi Nagin can be found in books like Naga Cults and Traditions in the Western Himalaya by Om Chanda Handa, Encyclopedia of Oriental Philosophy and Religion: v. 1-5: Hinduism and Judaism by N.K. Singh and A. Mishra and Indian Serpent-lore: Or, The N?gas in Hindu Legend and Art by J. Ph. Vogel. The Seryolsar temple is dedicated to Budhi Nagin the mother of 60 Nag deities such as Shesh-Nag, Kamru-Nag, Mahu-Nag, Ghunda Nag and other Nag Lords of the state.

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